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INEC Announces New Date For 2023 General Elections

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced new dates for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

INEC had earlier announced February 18, 2023 for the presidential election.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, (today) the National Chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

While Governorship and state houses of assembly elections will hold on March 11, 2023.

Yakubu’s statement reads thus, “As you are aware, yesterday, Friday 25th February 2022, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed the Electoral Bill 2022 into law. This is historic being the fourth time since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in May 1999 that the Electoral Act was repealed and re-enacted. The 1998 – 1999 elections were administered by transitional decrees until the 2001 Electoral Act was passed into law. Then, the Act was repealed and re-enacted as the Electoral Act 2002 which was in turn repealed and re-enacted in 2006, 2010 and now we have the 2022 Electoral Act.

“You may recall that in 2017, the Commission decided to establish fixed dates for General Elections in Nigeria. This decision was based on our determination to create certainty in the electoral calendar and to enable all stakeholders in the electoral process (the electoral commission, political parties and candidates, security agencies, observers, the media etc.) to prepare adequately for elections. By that decision, Presidential and National Assembly elections shall hold on the third Saturday of the month of February of each General Election year, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections shall follow two weeks later.

“Consequently, the 2023 General Election was scheduled to commence on 18th February 2023 with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on the 4th of March 2023. However, the Commission could not release the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election, as it normally would, because of the pending enactment of the Electoral Act 2022. The Bill has now been signed into law.

“Therefore, the Electoral Act 2022, together with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), form the legal basis for conducting all elections in Nigeria. In particular, the Electoral Act provides strict timelines for the implementation of electoral activities based on the date of the General Election. One of the significant timelines is the publication of Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding an election which has now lapsed for the 2023 General Election.

Consequently, the Commission has decided to adjust the dates of the 2023 General Election to ensure compliance with the provisions of the new law. Accordingly, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023. With this adjustment, the 2023 General Election is now 363 days away.

“Under the law, there are critical timebound activities from the publication of Notice of Election to the Conduct of Polls which form the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for elections. Some of the critical activities and their dates of implementation are as follows:

i. Publication of Notice of Election – Monday 28th February 2022.

ii. Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them – Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.

iii. Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal for Presidential and National Assembly election – 9.00am on Friday 10th June 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 17th June 2022.

iv. Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online nomination portal for Governorship and State Assembly elections – 9.00am on Friday 1st July 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 15th July 2022.

v. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.

vi. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – Wednesday 12th October 2022.

vii. Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.

viii. Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023.

“The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election will be circulated to the media at the end of this briefing. Soft copies will also be uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms immediately. In addition, the Notice of Election will be published in our offices in all the States of the Federation as required by law on Monday 28th February 2022.

“With the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission will work assiduously to conclude and publish new Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections that are consistent with the Act.

“These Regulations and Guidelines as well as Manuals issued by the Commission are all part of the legal regulatory framework for elections. Their timely publication will enable all stakeholders in the electoral process to become conversant with their provisions as they prepare for the 2023 General Election.

“On this note, I wish to remind stakeholders, especially the political parties, of their responsibility to adhere strictly to the timelines in this Timetable and Schedule of Activities, as well as all other timelines established by the Commission. It is necessary that all political parties comply with the extant legal framework, ensure proper organisation and management of party primaries and the nomination of qualified candidates in order to prevent unnecessary litigations and rancour.

“I thank you for attending this conference and God bless”.

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Chief Abiola Ogundokun Visits President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress ((APC) in Nigeria and Obanla of lwoland, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun during the weekend had a meeting with President- Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Abuja official residence.
Chief Ogundokun who is one of the most respected member of lgbinmo Agba
(Council of Elders) was at Tinubu residence alongside Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, Speaker, House of Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila and former Osun State Governor, Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola among others to welcome back the President-Elect and discuss pertinent national issues with him.

Earlier before the visit High Chief  Ogundokun, has hailed the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-Elect immediately after his February 25th, 2023 victory.  

It would recall that while congratulating the President-Elect in a congratulatory letter made available to newsmen after the victory , the Iwo high chief   described Tinubu as a political enigma whose political experience, sagacity and know-how is worth studying.  

He maintained that Asiwaju’s presidency will usher in an era of prosperity and unprecedented development for the country.  He added that the victory of the former governor in the keenly-contested election is a victory for the generality of Nigerians, particularly the common man.

The letter reads: ‘’Your Excellency, accept my warm congratulations on your victory. I extend my best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of leading our beloved country into an era of prosperity and high hope.

“Your victory at the polls is no doubt a victory for all Nigerians. It is now very clear that you’re a man destined for this challenge of leading at this particular period.  

“The victory is reward for hard work and doggedness both of which you exemplify. While others busied themselves with frivolities, you strategized. You worked for this victory and you earned the reward.

Mr. President-Elect, once again I congratulate you. ’’ The elder statesman wrote.

Chief Ogundokun also urged Asiwaju to extend an olive branch to the candidates that lost at the polls and to use his leadership quality to build a government of unity.

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Ogun PDP Candidate Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s Chances Boost

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Hon. Adebutu


 Ahead of the March 18,2023 governorship election, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State is staying true to his vow to unseat the incumbent, Dapo Abiodun. The Remo-born politician has so far stood with the people and refused to jettison his ambition in the face of daunting challenges. 
Having started the game long before many  others, the hard working politician has put in plenty of work into the project. Today, he remains one of the few candidates who have toured every nook and cranny of the state.  This has positioned him ahead of other candidates in the race because he understands where the shoes pinch, and he understands the problem of each and all the communities in Ogun state. 
He has proven that he is not an opportunist by refusing to abandon his people even when he was confronted by challenges that would ordinarily swallowed other lily-livered politicians.  In the course of his political trajectory he has been able to surmount all the hurdles thrown in his path by his opponents and naysayers.
Another cheery news coming from Ogun state indicates that the internal crisis threatening the chances of  Hon. Adebutu may have been finally laid to rest, following the public reconciliation with his political arch-rival,  Otunba Segun Showunmi.
As recalled, Showunmi  had earlier challenged in the court the party primary that produced Hon. Adebutu.
The foremost politician had always said that he was waiting patiently for the Supreme Court to give judgement on this matter and had always assured his supporters of the eventual victory.
However, all of this was laid to rest last Friday  when Hon. Adebutu with his loyalists paid a visit to Hon. Showunmi’s residence at his  Ibara, Abeokuta, GRA.
At the well-elaborated welcome party, Otunba Showunmi urged his supporters to sheathe their swords and work for the success of Hon. Adebutu at the March 18 Governorship election.
Showunmi, who was ecstatic, pleaded with his teeming to bury their hatchet and go back to their different polling units to canvass for Hon. Adebutu.
“My people, no more war. I am pleading with you to go back home and work for PDP. This coming election is for what concerns you and I. This coming election is for Hon. Ladi Adebutu. He is friendly and accommodating. Do whatever you can do to ensure PDP emerges, there’s no crisis again.”
Reacting, Hon. Adebutu  thanked Sowunmi for the reconciliation and sincerity. He said further that the journey to secure the party’s ticket as the governorship candidate has been tough, explaining that the party just received the 8th Supreme Court Judgment which has paved the way for him to contest the elections.
He, however raised the alarm that moles within have been working against the party to favour the opposition.
The governorship candidate disclosed that number of his loyalists who recently joined forces with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have all along being a burden, adding that their exit is a big relief for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Adebutu, who expressed optimism of winning the governorship poll, disclosed that the alleged moles used resources of the PDP to garner votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the recently concluded Presidential election
“Some moles within the Peoples Democratic Party, who are pretenders used our resources to work for All Progressives Congress at the just concluded presidential elections. They are burden to us and we try to manage them, offer them financial support every month’, he said.
“Their exit is now a relief for us, and they cannot last more than 90 days. Thank God we know them earlier enough and strike them out. PDP is now free. My mission to become the Governor is to repair the state”, Adebutu emphasized.
The former member of House of Representatives said those who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join All Progressives Congress (APC), are expired products, that will not last more than 90 days, stressing that their antecedents showed that it’s their habitual characters.
A source revealed that this reconciliation is coming at the right time and this would further boost the chance of the former member of the  House of Representatives.

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I’m On A Mission To Rescue Enugu State- LP Governorship Candidate- Edeoga

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Former member of the  House of Representatives and  Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, has said his mission is to restore social, cultural and economic fortunes of the state if elected governor.
Edeoga, who spoke at the weekend, lamented attempts by his opponents, who, according to him, have been fanning embers of disunity among the people, adding that his mission is to heal the state from years of disunity.
He said Enugu people are united and share a common cultural bond that cannot be overlooked by actions of desperate political actors.
Decrying efforts to pit people of Enugu East zone against their brothers in Enugu North of the state, the Labour Party candidate urged the people to cast their votes for him, stressing that he is the best person “to heal the state of imaginary divisions orchestrated by people, whose only intention is political profiteering.”
He said: “It is unfortunate that a number of people have been laying emphasis on what divides us rather than factors that unite us. But I have dedicated my life to making our state better. People are working hard to write imaginary lines of division between and among us; but I am here to blight those lines.
“I am from Enugu East Senatorial Zone, and I maintain cultural ties with Enugu North. This peculiar position puts me in good stead, better than any other candidate in this election to see everyone as one and the same. As God had made it, my running mate, Charles Nwokeabia, is from Enugu West. This means that in Labour Party, we have the type of rare balance that gives everyone in every part of the state a sense of belonging.
“We do not speak in zones. We speak of the state as one united constituency in need of transformation, and this we are determined to do.”

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